Repairs begin on Grimshaw’s leaky Newport station roof

Grimshaw’s £22 million ETFE-roofed Newport station in Wales is being repaired for leaks

The scheme’s contractor Galliford Try was called in to repair leaks earlier this month after a heavy downpour saw station users forced to dodge puddles.

Most of the drips have now been stopped however a ‘line possession’ – allowing contractors to work on the tracks while trains are suspended – will be needed to fix the two final leaks. No date has been given for when those repairs will take place.

Network Rail blamed ‘interface issues between some of the materials’ for the hiccup on the 925m² station.

Completed in October 2010, the iconic building features 31 air-filled ETFE cushions spread over two occulli steel structures.

Councillor Matthew Evans of Newport City Council told BBC News: ‘You will have snagging problems with any new building but when you’ve still got problems three years later it doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence.

‘I don’t have anything against the design – I called it thought-provoking at the time – but it needs to be practical.

It is embarrassing

‘The roof has had problems for some considerable time. It is embarrassing.’

A Network Rail spokesperson said: ‘We still have verification works to complete before we are happy that the roof is leak free.

‘The station represented a £20 million investment when it was redeveloped in 2009.

‘The station reopened in time for the 2010 Ryder Cup golf competition in Wales.

‘Since then, we became aware of interface issues between some of the materials used in its construction.

‘We agreed a remediation plan with our contractor and we are delighted that the works are now complete.’

A spokesperson for Galliford Try said: ‘We’ve corrected all but two leaks that are readily accessible but they remaining two require a line possession.

‘When we have possession of the line we will be able to rectify them. It’s very much in [Network Rail’s] hands.’

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